Dirty White Boy

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Dirty White Boy" by Foreigner from their 1979 album Head Games, and the Zoo Freaks are loving this hard-rocking classic. One juicy piece of trivia comes from Mick Jones, Foreigner’s guitarist, who revealed the song is a nod to Elvis Presley. Jones called Elvis the original "dirty white boy" who reshaped music, influencing everyone from Mick Jagger to countless others with his rebellious swagger. The song’s gritty vibe and driving riffs were meant to capture that raw, untamed spirit. However, not everyone was a fan—critic Chris Jones from The Charlotte News slammed it as Foreigner’s weakest track at the time, griping that the phrase "dirty white boy" gets repeated 20 times in just three and a half minutes. Yet, fans disagreed, pushing the single to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, with some regional charts, like in Joplin, Missouri, seeing it hit #5, according to a fan’s record chart leaflet shared on Songfacts.

Another fun story comes from the fan community on Songfacts, where a user named Rotunda from Tulsa shared how "Dirty White Boy" became "their song" with their first boyfriend, "Twinky" McGraw, in 1979. They loved how the lyrics warned a girl about risking her reputation by getting involved with a rough-around-the-edges loner who’s "never alone." The song’s raunchy guitar work and Lou Gramm’s vocals sealed their obsession, turning them into lifelong Foreigner fans. On Reddit, a user called it a "banger," admitting they weren’t huge Foreigner fans back in the day but can’t resist the track’s energy now. Even pop culture got in on the action—Aqua Teen Hunger Force referenced a fictional "Foreigner Belt" that grants superpowers like freezing foes with the phrase "Cold As Ice," showing the band’s quirky cultural footprint.

The album cover for Head Games stirred its own controversy, featuring actress Lisanne Falk as a teenage girl in a men’s restroom, looking shocked while erasing graffiti. Some feminists criticized it as misogynistic, but Lou Gramm insisted it was meant to be playful, like a cartoon, with the girl "caught" in a naughty act. Atlantic Records’ Stuart Ginsburg noted that "head" is naval slang for bathroom, tying the image to the album’s title. Despite the backlash, the album sold over five million copies, as noted by fans on Songfacts, and the single’s raw edge, produced by Roy Thomas Baker, kept it a staple on stations like THE ZOO.

Foreigner came to life in 1976 in New York City, born from the vision of British guitarist Mick Jones, who’d previously played with Spooky Tooth and the Leslie West Band. Jones teamed up with ex-King Crimson multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald and American vocalist Lou Gramm, whose powerful voice became the band’s signature. They rounded out the lineup with drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood, and bassist Ed Gagliardi. The name "Foreigner" was a cheeky nod to the band’s split nationality—half British, half American—meaning someone was always a "foreigner" no matter where they played. Their self-titled debut in 1977 went five times platinum in the U.S., fueled by hits like "Feels Like the First Time" and "Cold As Ice." By the time Head Games dropped in 1979, with new bassist Rick Wills, they were a rock juggernaut, blending gritty riffs with radio-ready hooks.

Stay connected with Foreigner through their official website, where you can find tour dates and merch. They’re active on Facebook, sharing updates and throwback photos, and on Instagram, posting live performance clips and fan shoutouts. Follow them on X for real-time news and interactions. Fans can dive deeper at sites like Foreigner’s official fan club or join discussions on the Foreigner Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can swap stories and celebrate the band’s legacy.